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American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Bird · family Pelecanidae · order Pelecaniformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American White Pelican
Photo: Manjith Kainickara, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
35 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
27 years[4]

The American White Pelican is a large fish-eating bird in the pelican family[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act and NatureServe ranks it Apparently Secure worldwide[1][2].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the American White Pelican G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide and N4 (Apparently Secure) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 100,000 to 1,000,000 birds[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where American White Pelican lives

NatureServe lists the American White Pelican as native in 35 US states and territories, from California and Texas to Wisconsin, New York and Florida[3]. Iowa is the one state where NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated, which means gone or possibly gone[10]. Some states rank it only for breeding or only for the non-breeding season, so the state ranks differ a lot[11]. Of the states with the most GBIF records, California, Texas, Florida, Colorado and Wisconsin lead, but those counts follow observer effort, not population size[12].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4BWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S1BWAIdaho: native, state rank S3BIDMontana: native, state rank S3BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank S3BMNIllinois: native, state rank SNAILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S2BORNevada: native, state rank S2BNVWyoming: native, state rank S3BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S2BSDIowa: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXB,S4NIAIndiana: native, state rank SNAINOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank SNANJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank S1CAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: native, state rank S1BCONebraska: native, state rank SNRNEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMMOKentucky: native, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S3NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S3NNMKansas: native, state rank S4NKSArkansas: native, state rank SNAARTennessee: native, state rank S3NTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5NSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S3NOKLouisiana: native, state rank S3NLAMississippi: native, state rank S3NMSAlabama: native, state rank S3NALGeorgia: native, state rank SNRNGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2B,S3NTXFlorida: native, state rank SNRNFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (36 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
ArizonaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaS1Critically Imperiled
ColoradoS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
FloridaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
GeorgiaSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
IdahoS3BVulnerable (breeding)
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
IowaSXB,S4NPresumed Extirpated (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
KentuckySNANot Applicable
LouisianaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
MinnesotaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
MississippiS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
MissouriSNRMNot Ranked (migrant)
MontanaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
NebraskaSNRNot Ranked
NevadaS2BImperiled (breeding)
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New MexicoS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
New YorkSNANot Applicable
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
OregonS2BImperiled (breeding)
South CarolinaS5NSecure (nonbreeding)
South DakotaS2BImperiled (breeding)
TennesseeS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
TexasS2B,S3NImperiled (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
UtahS3Vulnerable
WashingtonS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
WisconsinS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
WyomingS3BVulnerable (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records habitat types such as herbaceous wetland, riparian areas, big rivers, deep water, shallow water, bays, river mouths and lagoons[13]. In its notes, NatureServe says the bird lives around open marshes, bays, estuaries, reservoirs, lakes and rivers, and at times in marine waters near shore[14]. Pelicans rest and roost on islands and peninsulas, and they usually nest on the ground in open areas[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

NatureServe records a typical length of 158 cm (62 in)[15]. It records a typical adult weight of 17 lb[16]. It is a piscivore, which means a fish eater, and EltonTraits estimates its diet at 100% fish[17][18]. NatureServe notes that pelicans often feed in shallow water and sometimes work together to herd fish[19]. A typical clutch is 2 eggs, and the incubation period in AnAge is 36 days[20][21]. AnAge puts female sexual maturity at 1,095 days[22]. The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 54 years in the wild, and the oldest known banded wild bird was at least 27 years 1 months old[23][4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 158 cm (62 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 7.5 kg (17 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[23] 54 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 27 years 1 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 2
Gestation or incubation[21] 36 days
Female maturity[22] 1,095 days (about 3.0 years)
Food habits[17] Piscivore
Migration[24] non-migrant, long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[18]

  • 100% fish

When to look for it

NatureServe records the bird as diurnal, which means active in the daytime, and says feeding usually peaks in the morning and late afternoon or evening[25][26]. Its migration category is non-migrant and long-distance migrant, because populations differ[24]. Most birds migrate long distances, and the Gulf coast of Texas has resident birds[27]. On GBIF, most US records fall in January, April and May, but records reflect when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].

January: 163,406 recordsJanFebruary: 136,940 recordsFebMarch: 150,289 recordsMarApril: 211,470 recordsAprMay: 210,971 recordsMayJune: 121,810 recordsJunJuly: 114,840 recordsJulAugust: 125,327 recordsAugSeptember: 134,534 recordsSepOctober: 129,945 recordsOctNovember: 136,313 recordsNovDecember: 132,903 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[28].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January163,406
February136,940
March150,289
April211,470
May210,971
June121,810
July114,840
August125,327
September134,534
October129,945
November136,313
December132,903

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record American White Pelican as present in 92 park units[29]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 68 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin[12]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the American White Pelican endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the American White Pelican live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 35 US states and territories[3]. It ranks the bird as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Iowa[10].
What does the American White Pelican eat?
It is a fish eater, and EltonTraits estimates its diet at 100% fish[17][18].
How big is the American White Pelican?
NatureServe records a typical length of 158 cm (62 in)[15]. It records a typical adult weight of 17 lb[16].
How long does the American White Pelican live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 54 years in the wild[23]. The oldest known banded wild bird was at least 27 years 1 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. American White Pelican is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American White Pelican: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American White Pelican as native in 35 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild American White Pelican from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 27 years 1 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a bird in the family Pelecanidae, order Pelecaniformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. American White Pelican is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe ranks American White Pelican as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Iowa. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for American White Pelican (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American White Pelican: California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for American White Pelican: Herbaceous wetland, Riparian, Big river, Low gradient, Deep water, Shallow water, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Lagoon. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for American White Pelican. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 158 cm (62 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 7.5 kg (17 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% fish. EltonTraits 1.0
  19. NatureServe notes on food for American White Pelican. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 2. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 36 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,095 days (about 3.0 years). AnAge
  23. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 54 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  24. NatureServe migration category for American White Pelican: non-migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Circadian, Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  26. NatureServe notes on phenology for American White Pelican. NatureServe Explorer
  27. NatureServe notes on migration for American White Pelican. NatureServe Explorer
  28. GBIF observation records of American White Pelican in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  29. NPSpecies park lists recording American White Pelican as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Manjith Kainickara, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.